Younger children not so open about gender roles: survey

Young students, especially boys, are almost as conservative about gender roles as the older generation, according to a recent survey.

Some 247 primary, middle and high school students living in Seoul and the surrounding area participated in the survey, by the Korea Legal Aid Center for Family Relations, in May-June this year. The children gave an answer from one to five, with one indicating the highest level of gender equality.

Primary school students, regardless of gender, were highly conservative about the roles to be performed by each gender in the family.

The average mark given to the statement that "husbands are primarily responsible for the household economy" was 2.89. This was higher than the total average of 2.23, showing that younger children generally regarded their father as the breadwinner.



Many also answered that men are to be the supervisor when men and women are working together, according to the survey.

The answers of the middle and high school students depended on the gender of the respondent.

A majority of the male students answered positively to statements that "men and women differ in their capacities" and that "men are to take responsibilities in major issues." They also said that men should be given the leadership in social groups.

Girls, however, tended to think that a person`s abilities or leadership did not much depend on his or her gender.

"One may think that our society has become progressive over the past decades, but children are largely affected by the yet conservative thoughts and behavior of their parents," said an employee of the Women Resources Development Center.

"Traditional confucianist ideas are passed on from one generation to the next. Schools also need to take an active role in introducing a sense of gender equality to young pupils," a counselor at the KLCFR said.

(tellme@heraldm.com)



By Bae Hyun-jung